3 ms·
If only there was a small and very cheap device with wifi and aux out that you could plug into your old stereo, and instantly get the possibility to cast music
by semi-extrinsic 2y ago
If only there was a small and very cheap device with wifi and aux out that you could plug into your old stereo, and instantly get the possibility to cast music directly from all your Android apps. Like a Chromecast but for Audio.
Seriously, this was a thing 10 years ago! I bought five, and they all still work perfectly. They do multiroom audio. They are compatible with the new Nest speakers. The only reason we can't have them today is corporate greed and rent-seeking MBA fuckers.
- addicted 2y agoThe Chromecast Audio was a wonderful device. I unfortunately lost all mine in a move but there’s been absolutely no way to replace them :-(
- ssl-3 2y agoThey're still out there. In the US, MSRP at launch in 2015 was $35. With inflation, that's worth ~$46 today. I see one on eBay right now (open-box, allegedly never used) for $60, delivered, in buy-it-now format. $60 is not an ideal sort of price, but it's not something that seems extortionist or anything compared to the inflation-adjusted price from 2015.
- addicted 2y agoTrue, but relying on old units available on eBay is not a long term solution.
- izacus 2y agoThere are companies out there that make similar devices now luckily (sadly they're more expensive :/ )
- applied_heat 2y agoIt is Probably just fine for the next 10 years. Chromecast audio are working great for me with my 70’s receiver and modern mini amp and Bluetooth speakers with line in.
- ssl-3 2y agoThat's irrelevant. A self-updating hardware/software combination from Google can never be a long term solution. Reliance on old units from eBay (or not!) cannot make that situation any better nor any worse.
- jamesy0ung 2y agoUsed Airport Express is pretty good if you're an Apple household.
- ramses0 2y agoBelkin SoundForm Connect + a physical power button amp. So many people chasing so much complexity, but this seems like the precursor to the WiiM(?) - first I'm hearing of that one. (FYI, I chased that route, there is/was _one_ model that worked as an airplay2 device, but it still didn't feel as "native" as the modern HomePods ... icon was different, pairing was slower and slightly flakey... I moved to the belkin directly and have been happier. That and home assistant allowing single target airplay1 support to chrome cast / google nest devices sometimes is useful in a pinch)
- herf 2y agoPeople seem to like the WiiM streamers, but I have not tried one yet.
- turbojet1321 2y agoI have 3 - they're awesome.
- JetSetIlly 2y agoOh interesting. I was recently in my local HiFi shop (been a customer there for 40 years) to buy a new CD player and I noticed a WiiM box behind the counter in a display cabinet. I just assumed it was some sort of aging Nintendo Wii gimmick. I'm being serious. If it has nothing to do with Nintendo then it's terrible branding.
- turbojet1321 2y agoThere are a bunch of hifi brands that are making great products but don't have great name branding: SMSL, Topping, WiiM, Fosi (I own 3 of those 4, lol). The upside is that they mostly seem to care about making good products rather than branding.
- JetSetIlly 2y agoRight. I'll go back to the shop and have a closer look in that case. I like the idea of a streaming device to connect to a normal stereo system. TBH, I didn't even know such devices existed. I thought that if I wanted to stream from Spotify without a PC I would need to go down the Sonos route, which I obviously don't want to do. The problem with not having good branding is that potential customers walk right past your products. It's only chance comments in this thread that's made me take a second look. Thanks for the info :-)